KATHMANDU: The three major parties in the House of Representatives are without deputy leaders in their parliamentary parties.
After the November 2022 elections, Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal were elected as leaders of their respective parliamentary parties. These three leaders, however, have not been able to pick their deputy in parliamentary parties.
UML Chairperson Oli is currently the Prime Minister in the NC-UML coalition government. Oli had appointed Subas Chandra Nembang as deputy leader immediately after his election as the parliamentary party leader. The position has remained vacant since Nembang’s demise on September 12, 2023.
As per the Political Parties Act, parties with at least two elected representatives in the federal parliament or provincial assemblies can form parliamentary parties. The law states that members of the federal or provincial parliamentary party shall elect one leader from among themselves as per the party’s directives.
Similarly, the law allows the parliamentary party leader to appoint a deputy leader, chief whip, whip and member secretary. All three parties have already appointed chief whips and whips. However, the leaders of these three major parties in parliament have not been able to select their deputies.
Deuba fears the deputy leader will be seen as his successor
Deuba, who was elected parliamentary party leader, on December 21, has shown no interest in appointing a deputy leader. Deuba defeated Gagan Thapa, who is also the party’s general secretary, in the parliamentary party leader election. Deuba received 64 votes while Thapa could muster 25 votes.
After the 2017 election, Deuba had not made any delay in appointing his deputy in the parliamentary party. Deuba appointed Bijay Kumar Gachhadar as the party’s deputy leader in the first meeting held on the same day he was elected parliamentary party leader. After defeating Prakash Man Singh from the rival faction and becoming the party leader, there was talk in NC at that time that he immediately selected a deputy leader to put more pressure on the rival faction. Gachhadar is considered close to Deuba.
NC leaders have now started discussing the delay in appointing a deputy leader in the parliamentary party. On Sunday, former general secretary Shashank Koirala criticized President Deuba for not selecting a deputy leader of the parliamentary party. He said that the deputy leader can fulfill responsibilities in the leader’s absence and that there should be no delay in selecting a deputy leader.
“Why isn’t the president appointing a deputy leader in the parliamentary party? There might be some reason in his mind. But he should select a deputy leader,” he said. “The deputy leader takes charge in the absence of the leader. So there should be a deputy leader. You’d have to ask Sher Bahadur Deuba why we don’ have a deputy leader in parliament.”
Koirala also indicated that he was ready to become the party’s deputy leader. “I am not an aspirant, but If I am appointed, I won’t say no,” he added.
NC leaders understand that Deuba is trying to sideline this issue because there are too many aspirants. Party Vice-Chairperson Purna Bahadur Khadka, leaders Prakash Man Singh, Bimalendra Nidhi and Dr. Shashank Koirala, among others, are eyeing the position.
NC lawmaker Ram Hari Khatiwada is optimistic that the selection will happen soon as discussions are ongoing in the parliamentary party. “Rather than saying who the aspirants are, this is a matter for the parliamentary party leader to nominate. A deputy leader has become necessary,” Khatiwada said.
NC leaders also say Deuba hasn’t made the selection out of fear of offending aspirants and due to fear that the deputy leader will be seen as his successor.
UML isn’t even discussing the issue
KP Sharma Oli was elected parliamentary leader of the party on December 20, 2022. He appointed Subash Chandra Nembang, the party vice-chairperson, as his deputy in the lower house on March 13, 2023. Nembang, however, passed away on September 12 of the same year.
The two positions held by Nembang have remained vacant since his demise.
Oli was preparing to name one of Vice Chairperson Bishnu Poudel and Deputy General Secretary Prithvi Subba Gurung as his deputy in the parliamentary party. While Poudel is Oli’s preferred candidate for the position, Oli fears party leaders will make demands to appoint someone from indigenous nationalities to the position. This makes Gurung a frontrunner for the position.
UML Vice-Chairperson Yubaraj Gyawali said that the position of deputy leader in the parliamentary party is not mandatory. He added that the party leader can select a deputy leader when necessary. “The leader can select his deputy when needed. The position is not mandatory,” he said.
UML Whip in the lower house Sunita Baral said the issue hasn’t even been discussed in the party. “After the demise of deputy leader Nembang, the party hasn’t felt the need for a deputy leader,” Baral said. “There’s no dispute within the party about who to appoint because the issue of deputy leaders hasn’t even entered into party discussions.”
Deputy leader not necessary: Maoist Center
Maoist Center, the third-largest force in parliament, also does not have a deputy leader in its parliamentary party.
Maoist Center Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal was elected his party’s parliamentary leader on December 22, 2022. However, he has not been able to choose a deputy leader yet.
Although deputy general secretaries duo Barsha Man Pun and Janadaran Sharma are vying for the position, Dahal hasn’t been able to make a decision.
Maoist Center sources say Dahal has been postponing the issue after seeing that disputes might arise in the selection of the deputy leader.
Maoist Center Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey said that they have not selected a deputy leader because it hasn’t felt the need. “Our party doesn’t need a deputy leader in parliament right now,” he said. “A deputy leader will be selected by holding a meeting of the parliamentary party if the need arises. There is no other reason.”
